pages

Friday, January 08, 2010

Best In Show

I have a query to put to you dear PB readers...

Do you think there are too many dogs featured on PB?

I have a history of putting dogs into everything including this catalog cover from 4 years ago. Do I suffer from OCDD(obsessive compulsive dog disorder)? Over the holidays I happened to watch Best in Show while painting and became fixated even moreso... Granted it is pretty hysterical...But I started drawing dogs like crazy! Have you per chance noted the dogs at PB have gone upscale of late? I've moved on to Champs from the lowly any ole dog of the past.

Wow.Or should I say "Bow wow."Just came in from walking with friend Nancy, and her doggie, Leah, in the latest East coast snow fall.And here on PB; even more doggies, galore.You seem to go through phases re subjects that interest your artist's eye, Carol. But the constant is always the Paris theme, in one way or another. So dogs, Macarons, chocolate or baked gooodies in still-lifes; each adds its' own bit of zest to your wonderful blog. That's my 2 cents worth of opinion.Bill

Hi - I love your blog and your photos and your artwork. I have a beloved maltipoo and love dogs. Best in Show is one of my favorite movies of all times ! Having said that, I would prefer to see fewer dogs in your work. Please focus on Paris monuments, vignettes, food ..... thanks, Mattie's mom

Love the dogs! Scout is the daughter of a Best-in-Show at Westminster. Best in Show, the movie, is also one of our favorites. As you may know, aside from the featured actors, most of the people showing dogs in that movie are real people with real show dogs.

Carol your blog inspires my art, work ethic, sense of humor and constant scheming to return to France. Django (my dog) often gets an impromptu romp with 20 or 30 other dogs all off leash in our small-town park - it's even better than the woodsy trails near our house. Your work is the only other place I've seen such doggy heaven lately. Focus on what YOU love! Vivent les chiens!!

We find fascinating what interests YOU. And frankly, the doggie theme is wonderful. I think with you getting all your shows together, it is miraculous you have any time for us at all. Not only do you make time, you keep your quality and high standards. Viva la Paris Breakfasts. Yum.

Your dogs are great! I would like more street pictures, if you are asking, I have never been to Paris, I live in MN, where it is "dangerously cold" today. I would love street paintings of Paris in the spring, your paintings are a breathe of fresh air- so light and crisp. BTW, I have a corgi, I don't recall seeing a corgi on your site yet- thanks for a great site.

I LOVE every post you do......and looking forward to you posting. FYI: I have saved every post of your macaron watercolors and the doggies I forward to a grandchild who loves animals. O your style is like a "diamond of the finest cut with many facets."

Although I am a dog lover, and dream of having my own small one some day, it is two cats who I call my furry companions right now. I love the parade of dogs in your blog and don't see any reason to put a stop to it. Good luck with the dog show ad. Great idea!!!

As I read down today's issue, I thought "Westminster Dog Show" and was happy to find you there already. Pampered pets are as Parisian as patisserie. Your charming blog is the highlight of my morning email now, bringing happy memories of Paris and New York.

Hi Carol. I think it's wonderful for people who love dogs and even though I'm not a dog person it doesn't bother me at all. If you don't know about this you should check out "Madeline's Rescue", a children's book with one whole giant picture of people walking dogs in Paris.

Yes, I do think there are too many dogs in your paintings and its not because we are a cat family..... I have always read/heard that while the French adore their dogs - they do not feel responsible for cleaning up after them and just leave the 'poo' where it falls. For a culture that thinks it is tres chic - I must say that leaving your animals poo where others can step on it or children could fall into - is not what I consider chic, good taste, good sense or being a responsible pet owner. Cleaning up after your animal is part of having an animal - just as feeding them good food or giving them fresh water - it just comes with the territory.

If Frenchwomen think it's not chic to bend down and clean up after their dogs, then they should consider getting a cat since the litter box is indoors (so noone would see them doing the chore) and usually very easy to care for. Jean

The dogs are so much a part of Paris; thank goodness they are doing a somewhat better job of cleaning up the little "souvenirs" that dogs leave behind. I love your paintings of shop fronts with the dogs patiently waiting outside.Your blog is a bright spot in my day. Thanks!

Brilliant! Great ad and great ringside you will have!!! Will have ears pricked, nose on point and tail slightly wagging in anticipation of very classy dogs to come.. Too many dogs? Is there such a thing? :)

Carol -- At 41 posts already, you hardly need my humble feedback, but since I love PB so much you get it anyway: Please keep on posting your artwork, dog-related or otherwise. It's the combination of your photo and illustrative artistry that gives PB its special flair. (I really must have my colleagues in our French Dept. give you commissions for our French books!)XOXOMichael

Oh I am loving this dog craze you are going thru. dont quit. I cant believe all the work you have done thru the years. You just keep throwing us a little tease of your work here and there. Love it!! & love all your paintings here.

More dogs! I have just this week returned from 2 weeks in Paris, took photos of dogs - walking down the street, waiting outside shops for their owners and even one that had it's own bed in a restaurant. More dogs I say!!!

Dear Ms. Breakfasts,I would be much obliged if you would do me the favor when you're at Westminster and scout out a refined Airedale of the female persuasion who might be interested in leaving behind the glare of the spotlight to settle down with a distinguished mature Airedale entering his retirement years, yet still in top form. I can offer unusually good rabbitting, a cupboard always full of treats and a regular bath and grooming schedule. Note: She MUST be a sharp dresser!Sincerely,Oswald AiredaleSincerely,

The Westminster Show is a great avenue for you (no pun intended) ... I had a dog or two at Westminster (one that went in for Best in Show) and we LOVE our dogs ... had no idea OCDD was a concern! Best of luck in being Best in Show! That show is total material.

Dogs or cats?...they're all wonderful and welcome...what's more important is the story you are telling with each painting, photo and post. You are selling us your beautiful renderings of Paris and the French way of life (with a little New York thrown in just for fun!). Thanks for everything. :)

Hi Carol - three of us just arrived in Paris yesterday and we noticed some very handsome dog wallpaper in the window at Pierre Frey. We'll snap a photo for you if we get back that way.I say keep the dogs - and bring us even more in 2010!!!Bon vendredi!Mary

NEVER too many puppies!! I love them. I have a Shih-Tzu who is the light of my life....oh yea, and I have three children too who run a close second! HAHA just kidding. Come visit my blog anytime, Dear!Stacy Mayer

I stumbled across your blog a copy of years ago and signed up for the morning emails sent from you, eventually I got hooked on blogs and just started one of my own.. Your blog is what inspired me to do so,,, all of your is 'great' the art - the stories- the trips -- the photo's and I love the dogs... would like to have my dog painted by you...A good read is a book called Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman (Hardcover)Lisa Scottoline (Author)

Now I can see you writing a book about your adventures in Paris , New York -- featuring your work, your blog stories and all... I think it would be a great success with dogs and macaroons and mini-birds and all Joannythe dowsers daughter

Carol,Don't ever change what you are doing, or what inspires you to blog daily! Jamais s'il vous plait!!! I get your blog emailed daily, and it's my fix, my inspiration to get back to Paris, love the dogs, love your paintings, love your words, love the patisserie's (even though my hips don't)and sometimes keep it unopened so that I can make a cup of coffee and read it and pretend I am at a cafe in Paris..... You bring to my memories of my visit alive.... Thankyou Susan (South Africa)

So glad to note you included Papillon dogs in your last posting!My Papillon is very beautiful. Good for you including them and I hope you see a lot of them at Westminster this year! woof! woof! yip! woof!

In response to your question about having too many dogs in your paintings... One can never have too many dogs. I LOVE dogs! And I so enjoy all your paintings that include dogs. Don't stop painting dogs. Thanks for such a darling blog. I read it everyday and love it.

love the dogs - keep on doing what you are doing - it is wonderful - one of these days i am going to order a special sketch - great idea about the ad in the westminster dog show booklet... more trips to paris will be generated by that smart move

Of course you should have as many dogs as you wish!!! Now macarons....I have to tell you I was gifted a box of Pierre Herme macarons this weekend as a hostess treat..Love the box, love the colors but we haven't tried them yet. thought of you toute de suite!!!

I never would have thought a person could get so attached to a dog. However, my miniature Pomeranian is now so much a part of me and my wife that it is difficult to fathom. Our do has so much personality and everyone who comes into contact with her, well it's instant love.

Paris Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it, now tripping over cobblestones, living in a 6th-floor garret on l'Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. Read Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris breakfasts.